Who | Western Illinois (2-5) vs. North Dakota State (2-6)
When | Saturday, Jan. 2 & Sunday, Jan. 3 | 3:30 p.m.
Where | Macomb, Ill. (Western Hall)
TV | Leatherneck All-Access
Radio | Mixlr (Cam Thomas)
Twitter | @WIU_MensHoops
Quick Hits
- Western wrapped its non-league schedule in a 91-72 loss to DePaul; the team enters this weekend's games with a 2-5 record
- In all but two games this season, either Will Carius or Tamell Pearson led the Leathernecks in scoring; at DePaul, they both recorded a team-high 15 points
- The series between WIU and NDSU dates back to 2007-08; the Bison lead the set 21-8
- WIU and NDSU faced each other as the No. 8 and No. 4 seeds, respectively, in the semifinal round of the 2019 Summit League Tournament; where Western fell 76-73; the game marked the Leathernecks' first trip to the Summit League semifinals since the 2012-13 season
A Summit Opener
The Leathernecks' journey to the Summit League title begins with North Dakota State, as Western Illinois will see both its men's (3:30 p.m.) and women's (1 p.m.) programs in action on Jan. 2.
The 16-game slate will be conducted in a single-site format, with teams playing back-to-back, no break between days. The men's and women's league schedules also mirror each other, with each date featuring a doubleheader.
Western Illinois 2020-21 League Schedule
Jan. 2-3 | North Dakota State
Jan. 8-9 | at South Dakota State
Jan. 15-16 | Kansas City
Jan. 22-23 | South Dakota
Jan. 29-30 | at North Dakota
Feb. 6-7 | at Omaha
Feb. 12-13 | Denver
Feb. 27-28 | at Oral Roberts
On the Board
The Leathernecks lead the Summit League and rank 10th in the NCAA in offensive rebounds per game (14.86). Will Carius manages a team-best 3.29 boards per game, while Tamell Pearson and Cameron Burrell add 3.14 and 2.43, respectively.
Offensive Production
Western Illinois is one of three programs in the Summit with at least three players averaging double-figures. Tamell Pearson guides the Leathernecks' offense with 12.7 PPG, Justin Brookens adds 12.0, and Will Carius 11.9.
Double-figures in the Summit League (through Dec. 30)
Denver - 1
Kansas City - 1
North Dakota - 2
North Dakota State - 3
Omaha - 1
Oral Roberts - 2
South Dakota - 2
South Dakota State - 3
The Scout
The Bison are the reigning Summit League Tournament champions. They have won five title crowns in 12 seasons as a full member of the league (2009, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020) … Upperclassmen Rocky Kreuser, Tyree Eady, and Sam Griesel are averaging 12.9 PPG, 11.6 PPG, and 10.4 PPG, respectively … the three are also the team's leading rebounders.
